Interlocking reversible feed-trough.



J. S. ELDER & H. J. WILSON. INTERLOCKIVNG REVEHSlBLE FEED TROUGH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27,1917- Patented June 5,1917.

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JAMES S. ELDER AND HERBERT J. WILSON, OF FORT GQLLINS, COLORADO.

INTERLOCKING REVERSIBLE FEED-THOUGH.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented June 5, 19117..

Application filed. February 2'7, 1917. i Serial No. 151,235.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that we, Janus S. ELDER and lrlnnenn'r J. WILSON, citizens of the United States, both residing at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Interlocking Reversible Feed- Troughs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in feeding troughs for use especially in the feeding of sheep where a large number of troughs must be provided and where it necessary or advisable to reverse or dump the troughs after each feeding. The. objects of the improvement are to provide simple and substantial reversible dump troughs that may be arranged in series so as to be easily accessible and all of the troughs in a series operatively interlocked so as to be easily and quickly reversed 0r dumped in unison byone operation; also to provide cooperating or interlocking means that will positively and easily dumpall of the troughs in a series in unisonyalso to'arrange the interlocking means in position where it will not obstruct free access to or about the troughs. We attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification. V

In the drawing, view of a series of reversible feed troughs constructed and interlocked according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of such a series. Fig. 3 is a detail of an end plate and axle. Fig. 4f is a detail of a drive pulley, the upper half being in elevation and the lower half in cross section. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the operatinghandle and pulley and cable anchoring means. Fig. 6 is an end view of a feed trough removed from the supporting framework. Fig. 7 indicates a manner of anchoring the operating cable to a drive pulley.

The samereference numerals throughout the several figures indicate the same or like parts.

concrete as indicated at 5.

Figure 1 is a perspective Any desired or convenient number of troughs for the feeding pen are to be thus mounted and arranged parallel to each other in a series as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, sufficient room being provided between troughs for easy access. The supporting posts of the several troughs in a series may be braced and held rigid by braces or railing 6. The posts upon which railing 6 is fastened are to be long enough so that the railing is lifted well above the ground and out of the way. When the posts are set firmly in the ground the brace railing (3 may not be neces sary, or necessary only between posts at one end of the troughs, as shown in a drawing. Thus if the braces or railing 6 is fastened to posts 2 the other supporting posts 3 need be only high enough to support cross pieces :1.

if for any reason the setting of the posts in the ground is not feasible or desired, it is obvious that other means of constructing a rigid framework for a series of troughs may be employed.

Axle 7 at one end of each trough is rigidly anchored to the end of the trough by means of plate 8, and these axles are adapted to extend through holes in the posts 2 and have squared and threaded outer ends upon which drive pulleys 9 are anchored. 10 are double grooved idler pulleys mounted on the framework above each drive pulley.

The several troughs in a series are connected or interlocked by means of a continuous operating cable 11 arranged over and around the idler and drive pulleys in such manner that the movement of the cable will revolve and dump'all of the troughs in unison; and the portions of cable 11 extending longitudinally of the series are held taut and well above the ground and out of the way. The manner of arranging the cable is shown in Figs. 1 and 2., as follows: Starting, for example, at the top and in one groove of the idler pulley 10 at the extreme right end of the series shown, the cable extends in anti-clockwise direction over that idler and is looped downward and clockwise around drive pulley 9, upward across and again Over the idler pulley in anti-clockwise direction in the other groove, then to the left to and over the idler pulley at the next trough, down around the corresponding drive pulley, and upward across and again over that idler, and thus on in like manner throughout the series. From the last idler the cable extends back along the series to the starting point.

In order to insure positive operation the cable may be anchored to each drive pulley 9 by suitable clamps 16.

To operate the cable we provide a crank 12 upon one of the idler pulleys, as for example, at one end of the series, where it is most convenient. Suitable means may be provided whereby the cable may be anchored in any desired position thus holding the troughs either in upright or reversed position. A simple contrivance to effect the anchoring of the cable is indi cated in Fig. 5 where the idler 10 upon which the crank 12 is fastened is anchored to its shaft- 18. Shaft 13 extends through the post 2 and has a perforated disk 14 on the opposite end. Holes are bored inv that post to receive a pin 15 inserted through a hole in disk 14.

In operation, the troughs, when in upright position as shown in 1 and 2', are used in. the ordinary manner for feeding sl'leep. After each feeding the troughs are reversed or dumped to remove all waste and foreign matter and keep the troughs open and clean for the next feeding. lhis is easily and quickly done by operating the cable; the locking pin 15 is removed and crank 12 turned in clockwise direction moving the cable in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2, turning all of the troughs on their axes one-half revolution dumping them and placing them in a reversed position. The pin 15 is then inserted so as to lock the cable and troughs in that position until time for the next feeding, when the troughs are again turned in upright position by a reverse movement of the cable.

We claim:

1. The combination of a series of feed troughs reversibly mounted upon axles in a framework, drive pulleys anchored to an axle of each trough, idler pulleys mounted on said framework above each drive pulley, a continuous cable passing around and operatively connecting all of said drive pulleys throughout the series and arranged to pass over said idler pulleys so that the por tions of said cable extending between troughs longitudinally of the series are held well above the level of the troughs to allow free access thereto, with means to operate said cable to-reverse said troughs in unison, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a series of reversible feed troughs arranged parallel to each other and mounted between posts, a drive pulley anchored to one end of each trough and arranged to receive an operating cable, idler pulleys mounted upon said posts above each drive pulley, a continuous operating cable arranged over said idler pulleys throughout the series so as to be held well above the ground and looping from each idler pulley down and around the correspending drive pulley, with means to operate said cable to reverse the troughs in unison, substantially as described.

JAMES SFELDER. HERBERT J WILSON.

Witnesses LULU MAY S'rnnoxnn, CLAUDE C. CorFIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

